Aav-based gene therapy for multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Disclosed are AAV viral-based vector compositions useful in delivering a variety of nucleic acid segments, including those encoding therapeutic polypeptides to selected mammalian host cells for use in therapeutic autoimmune modalities, including, for example, the in vivo induction of immunological tolerance via a liver-directed AAV-based gene therapeutic regimen for treating and/or ameliorating autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) nucleic acid vector comprising:
 a polynucleotide that includes a nucleic acid segment that encodes a first autoimmune disease therapeutic molecule operably linked to a promoter that is capable of expressing the nucleic acid segment in one or more cells of a mammalian liver.   
     
     
         2 . The rAAV nucleic acid vector of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid segment encodes a mammalian myelin basis protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP), or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). 
     
     
         3 . The rAAV nucleic acid vector of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid segment encodes a human myelin basis protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP), or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). 
     
     
         4 . The rAAV nucleic acid vector of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the nucleic acid segment encodes a biologically-active myelin basis protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP), or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), that comprises an at least 20 amino acid contiguous sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, or 35. 
     
     
         5 . The rAAV nucleic acid vector of  claim 4 , wherein the nucleic acid segment encodes a biologically-active myelin basis protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP), or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, or 35. 
     
     
         6 . The rAAV nucleic acid vector of  claim 2 , wherein the nucleic acid segment encodes a biologically-active myelin basis protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP), or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), that comprises an at least 20 amino acid contiguous sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, or SEQ ID NO:3, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The rAAV nucleic acid vector of  claim 6 , wherein the nucleic acid segment encodes a biologically-active myelin basis protein (MBP), proteolipid protein (PLP), or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) that comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, or SEQ ID NO:3. 
     
     
         8 . The rAAV nucleic acid vector of any one of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein the nucleic acid segment further comprises an enhancer, a post-transcriptional regulatory sequence, a polyadenylation signal, or any combination thereof, operably linked to the nucleic acid segment encoding the therapeutic molecule. 
     
     
         9 . The rAAV nucleic acid vector of any one of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein the promoter is a mammalian cell-specific or a mammalian tissue-specific promoter. 
     
     
         10 . The rAAV nucleic acid vector of any one of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein the nucleic acid segment further encodes or further expresses a polypeptide, a peptide, a ribozyme, a peptide nucleic acid, an siRNA, an RNAi, an antisense oligonucleotide, an antisense polynucleotide, an antibody, an antigen binding fragment, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The rAAV nucleic acid vector of  claim 10 , wherein the nucleic acid segment further encodes a second distinct therapeutic molecule that is effective in treating or ameliorating one or more symptoms of autoimmune disease in the mammal. 
     
     
         12 . The rAAV nucleic acid vector of  claim 11 , wherein the autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis. 
     
     
         13 . A rAAV particle comprising the rAAV nucleic acid vector of any one of  claims 1  to  12 . 
     
     
         13 . A method for providing a mammal in need thereof with a therapeutically-effective amount of a selected therapeutic agent, the method comprising systemically administering to the mammal, an amount of the rAAV nucleic acid vector of any one of  claims 1  to  12  or the rAAV particle of  claim 13 ; and for a time effective to provide the mammal with a therapeutically-effective amount of the encoded therapeutic molecule. 
     
     
         14 . A method for treating or ameliorating one or more symptoms of an inflammatory disease in a mammal, the method comprising: systemically administering to the mammal, the rAAV nucleic acid vector of any one of  claims 1  to  12  or the rAAV particle of  claim 13 , in an amount and for a time sufficient to treat or ameliorate the one or more symptoms of autoimmune disease in the mammal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mammal has, is suspected of having, is at risk for developing, or has been diagnosed with at least a first autoimmune disorder. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis, disseminated sclerosis, or encephalomyelitis disseminata. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mammal is a newborn, an infant, a juvenile, or a young adult. 
     
     
         18 . The method of any one of  claims 14  to  17 , wherein production of the therapeutic molecule in the mammal reduces CNS inflammation, inhibits demyelination, re-establishes immune tolerance to one or more neuroproteins, stimulates the production of endogenous antigen-specific regulatory T cells, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of any one of  claims 14  to  18 , wherein the rAAV vector encodes a second distinct therapeutic molecule selected from the group consisting of an agonist, an antagonist, an anti-apoptosis factor, an inhibitor, a receptor, a cytokine, a cytotoxin, an erythropoietic agent, a glycoprotein, a growth factor, a growth factor receptor, a hormone, a hormone receptor, an interferon, an interleukin, an interleukin receptor, a nerve growth factor, a neuroactive peptide, a neuroactive peptide receptor, a protease, a protease inhibitor, a protein decarboxylase, a protein kinase, a protein kinase inhibitor, an enzyme, a receptor binding protein, a transport protein or an inhibitor thereof, a serotonin receptor, or an uptake inhibitor thereof, a serpin, a serpin receptor, a tumor suppressor, a chemotherapeutic, or any combination thereof.